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Secret Cinema's Star Wars event is a mind-blowing experience of a lifetime for any Star Wars fan. Running in London over 100 nights from June 4th to September 27th, it's more than twice as big as last summer's gigantic Back to the Future project. The epic installation lets visitors live events from Episode IV: A New Hope before an interactive screening of Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, the best of the six films to date. And with a cast of 400 performers merging seamlessly into the costumed audience, it's an unforgettable evening.

It begins with an evacuation, as earth-based rebels are called to a secret London location. Before arriving, we are given an identity and wardrobe advice (I was Niles Torwyn, galactic explorer) and told to stay low and keep our faces covered. At Earth Cargo Airlines, we are herded into a loading bay and transported through space to Mos Eisley spaceport on the desert planet Tatooine, where we have several hours to walk around the bustling market town, paying for food and drink with galactic credits while engaging with the people around us. Speaking to strangers or walking into doorways will result in quests and training exercises. And among the crowd, there's a chance to interact with characters like Old Ben Kenobi, Chewbacca, C-3PO, R2-D2 and a gang of fast-talking Jawas, but avoid eye contact with the Storm Troopers. There are also special cocktails and music in the busy Cantina Bar before another transport whisks us off to a Rebel Base and the Death Star itself.

Along the way, virtually the entire final act of A New Hope is taking place around us, often in ways that send chills down the spine. It's a thrilling re-creation of a film that transformed our childhood, and there are at least two "wow" moments that are almost overwhelming. This is followed by the next chapter in the story, a bright digital screening of The Empire Strikes Back accompanied by some very cool live action. Originally released in 1980, the film stands up remarkably well with its sarcastic humour, brittle emotions and some very dark drama, leading to a wonderfully maddening cliffhanger ending. Best of all is the way the script remains centred on the characters, twisting and deepening them while allowing Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher to further develop their most iconic roles.

The Rebel Alliance struck a terrific blow to the Galactic Empire with the destruction of the Death Star. But now, with the Emperor's right hand man, Darth Vader, on the hunt for Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), the Alliance are going to have more difficulty fighting them off. Han Solo (Harrison Ford) is reluctantly still fighting alongside the Alliance, although his smuggling past and loner demeanour still rub wrongly with Leia Organa (Carry Fisher), who finds him to be nothing more than a stuck up, scruffy-looking Nerf herder. But their petty squabbling will have to be put aside when the Empire comes in search of Luke.

The galaxy is in turmoil. A Rebel Alliance is rising up against the villainous Galactic Empire but they are still marginalised and easily defeated. The Empire has a secret weapon, something that will ensure their continued hold on the galaxy: The Death Star. The giant space station has the ability to destroy an entire planet, although the Rebel Alliance have successfully stolen the secret plans for it. When Princess Leia Organa of Alderan (Carry Fisher) is captured on her way to deliver the plans to the Alliance, she is forced to send them inside a droid to the closest planet - Tatooine. There, a young moisture farmer, Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), who dreams of something greater for himself, is about to embark on the adventure of a lifetime, and save the galaxy along the way.

The Rebel Alliance has fallen into an incredibly dark time. With the destruction of their base in the Hoth system, they have suffered numerous setbacks and defeats across the galaxy. It has been a crushing time for the heroes of the Rebel Alliance as well, as Han Solo (Harrison Ford) has been captured by the ruthless Darth Vader and sent to the vicious crime boss Jabba the Hutt. Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) has suffered greatly, too. Not only has he learned the truth about Vader being his father, but he has lost his hand in a battle with the dark lord of the Sith. Luke must first rescue Han, and then face up to his destiny and battle Vader for the fate of the galaxy.

A release date for the new Star Wars movie – Episode VII – is getting closer. Multiple sources are reporting that a mid-December release is likely, meaning director J.J. Abrams has plenty of time to get it right.

J.J. Abrams has to make Star Wars Episode VII amazing, or else

The Christmas date marks an unprecedented move for the franchise; all of the previous six movies were filmed in the U.K and granted a May release. But given the crowded nature of business – most of the blockbusters hits screens in the summer months – a winter bow could be a blessing.

When the first Star Wars films came along, they filled a collective need. Movies had gotten too serious -- too much realism, not enough escapism. It was a time when audiences wanted to escape from the headlines -- as we still do -- and return to moral, and cinematic, simplicity. George Lucas delivered the goods.

Watching the first two installments in the series again (Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back, also the two best films in the series), the most noticeable thing about them is all the ideas that went into them. Lightsaber duels, the Force, model spaceships, Darth Vader's heavy breathing, droids that deliver annoying repartee, aliens that look like Sasquatch and giant frogs, and wisecracking antiheroes like Harrison Ford's Han Solo -- all these things have entered our cultural consciousness. But the makers of the original Star Wars had to think up all these things (or borrow them from non-sci-fi genres).

When the first Star Wars films came along, they filled a collective need. Movies had gotten too serious -- too much realism, not enough escapism. It was a time when audiences wanted to escape from the headlines -- as we still do -- and return to moral, and cinematic, simplicity. George Lucas delivered the goods.

Watching the first two installments in the series again (Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back, also the two best films in the series), the most noticeable thing about them is all the ideas that went into them. Lightsaber duels, the Force, model spaceships, Darth Vader's heavy breathing, droids that deliver annoying repartee, aliens that look like Sasquatch and giant frogs, and wisecracking antiheroes like Harrison Ford's Han Solo -- all these things have entered our cultural consciousness. But the makers of the original Star Wars had to think up all these things (or borrow them from non-sci-fi genres).